FOTX0511 -- On_the_Half_Shell (Rating A-4,M-4)
Fractal visionaries and enthusiasts:
Today's minor effort is worth at least a quick look, though it
will not set any records for beauty. It is a minibrot that lies
on a tendril extending from a bud of the parent fractal that
results when 1.6 parts of Z^-1.9 are combined with 0.2 parts of
Z^-9.1. The shell-like effect that inspired the name was
achieved by rendering the image with the outside set to 'tdis'
The good news is that my fingers really do remember the Fractint
keystrokes, I just cannot think of the strokes when I
consciously try to recall them, making frequent diversions to
the help index necessary. I am also a bit rusty on finding
minibrots and other good fractal scenes. A year ago, these
fractal things were turning up almost automatically. Today, I
needed to take time to try to guess where the scenic areas of
the parent fractal might lie, if any might exist. My success
was questionable.
Maybe I have become too involved in the debate over the meaning
of quantum theory. The math of quantum theory is not in
question, it works great. The problem is that the quantum world
appears to consist of only the math that defines it. Things
like electrons and photons can be seen as tiny balls, spread out
waves, neither or both. In all cases the same math applies.
The problem arises when the math is squeezed into our very
limited, common sense idea of a world of 3-D space filled with
real objects, which raises the measurement problem.
The measurement problem arises because the real world is made of
sub-atomic particles, and the sub-atomic particles consist of
numbers. The means that the real world is basically made of
numbers, and numbers are pure abstractions, with no material
reality at all. The problem is that no one can show with
certainty how abstract numbers can create real physical
material. Perhaps the greatest embarrassment of science is that
even after 90 years of pondering, this problem is still
unresolved.
Considering all this, it seems to me as if the real world might
be much like a computer video game, where the fantasy world of
the game exists only as program information until it is
displayed on the screen, observed, and thereby made real. But
if this is taken to be true, it will make no difference in
everyday life, since everything we have always considered real
will still appear and behave the same.
But rational materialists are quite upset by this. Maybe their
concern is that their philosphical world view is being
threatened. Quantum theory seems to be drifting toward
mysticism, which is the antithesis of rational science and says
that the material world is an illusion. In an effort to show
how silly such views are, rationalists refer to such views,
which are very common among new-agers, as 'Quantum Woo'. At the
same time, Atheists are annoyed by quantum theory because it can
easily be misused as an argument for the existence of God.
This debate is quite understandable. After all, everyone needs
a solid foundation on which to base their life's philosophical
standpoint, be it the white bearded old man in the sky of
religion or the rock solid reality of the material universe on
which science is based.
But fractals can be enjoyed by everyone, whether the images are
real or not, or whether God exists or not, and the real world
can likewise be enjoyed by everyone, even if it turns out to be
no more real than fractals and if God is actually proved to
exist.
There are problems with the FOTD web sites, so I'll not post any
web addresses until the problems are resolved.
Today was cloudy and dreary but dry here at Fractal Central,
with a temperature of 63F 17C. The fractal cats spent most of
the day worrying about the feral tomcats that are again becoming
more numerous around the area. And to make things worse, we
think there could be kittens under the fractal back porch. FL
is also rather down because the cool wet weather is causing her
garden to lag. The next FOT... will be posted whenever it is.
Until whenever, take care, and I'm either a believer or an
Atheist, depending on how God is described.
Jim Muth
jimmuth(a)earthlink.net
START PARAMETER FILE=======================================
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frm:MandAutoCritInZ {; Jim Muth
a=real(p1), b=imag(p1), d=real(p2), f=imag(p2),
g=1/f, h=1/d, j=1/(f-b), z=(((-a*b*g*h)^j)+(p4)),
k=real(p3)+1, esc=imag(p3)+100, c=fn1(pixel):
z=k*((a*(z^b))+(d*(z^f)))+c,
|z| < esc }
END PARAMETER FILE=========================================
